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In this episode of Tools and Weapons, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith sits down with Ed Policy, President and CEO of the Green Bay Packers, to discuss how purpose-driven leadership and innovation are shaping the future of one of the world’s most iconic sports franchises. Ed shares how technology and community-focused initiatives, from Titletown Tech to health and safety innovations on the field, are transforming not just the game of football, but the economy and culture of Green Bay itself. He explains how combining strategic vision with investment in local startups is keeping talent in the Midwest and creating opportunities that extend far beyond Lambeau Field.

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Last week, Microsoft released the AI Diffusion Report 2025, offering a comprehensive look at how artificial intelligence is spreading across economies, industries, and workforces worldwide. The findings show that AI adoption has reached an inflection point: 68% of enterprises now use AI in at least one function, driving measurable productivity and economic growth. The report also highlights that diffusion is uneven, underscoring the need for greater investment in digital skills, responsible AI governance, and public-private collaboration to ensure the benefits are broadly shared. Read the full report here.

In this new episode of Tools and Weapons, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith sits down with Ted Sarandos to discuss how bold leadership and a culture of innovation keep Netflix ahead, not just as a media company, but as a force shaping both industries and audiences. Ted shares how intuition and data combine to turn daring ideas into practical solutions, from scaling storytelling across 190 countries to relentlessly creating content that gets under the skin of viewers and makes them feel deeply connected to the stories they watch. Subscribe and find new episodes monthly, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Last week, Microsoft released its 2025 Digital Defense Report, highlighting the evolving cybersecurity landscape and Microsoft's commitment to defending against emerging threats. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the current threat environment, including identity and access threats, human-operated attacks, ransomware, fraud, social engineering, and nation-state adversary threats. It also outlines advancements in AI for cyber-attack and defense, as well as the emerging cybersecurity threat of quantum technology. The report emphasizes the need for international collaboration, proactive regulatory alignment, and the development of new tools and practices to enhance cybersecurity resilience. Explore the report here.

Earlier this month, Microsoft released the 2025 TechSpark Impact Report, which highlights how the company is assisting regions across the US in achieving these goals. Since its launch, TechSpark has obtained over $700 million in community funding, supported more than 65,000 people in developing digital skills, and, thanks to the work of TechSpark Fellows, catalyzed $249M+ in funding and upskilled 34,600 individuals across 46 communities — highlighting the ripple effect of local leadership and innovation. Learn more about this progress in the 2025 report here.

Last week, Microsoft released the 2025 TechSpark Impact Report, which highlights how the company is assisting regions across the US in achieving these goals. Since its launch, TechSpark has obtained over $700 million in community funding, supported more than 65,000 people in developing digital skills, and, thanks to the work of TechSpark Fellows, catalyzed $249M+ in funding and upskilled 34,600 individuals across 46 communities — highlighting the ripple effect of local leadership and innovation. Learn more about this progress in the 2025 report here.

Microsoft has announced its newest — and largest — AI datacenter in Wisconsin, with the first facility set to go operational by early 2026 and a second of similar scale to follow. Together, the projects represent a $7 billion investment, creating hundreds of jobs and dramatically expanding AI capacity. These facilities feature hundreds of thousands of the world’s most powerful NVIDIA GPUs, billions of gigabytes of storage, and a hyper-optimized network with enough fiber cable to circle the globe four and a half times. Advanced liquid cooling eliminates the need for water use on 90% of the campus, sustainably powering AI training at an unprecedented scale. Beyond technology, Microsoft has partnered with 40+ local organizations, trained 114,000+ people in AI and digital skills, and connected 9,300 rural residents to reliable broadband. Learn more here.

Microsoft has announced its newest — and largest — AI datacenter in Wisconsin, with the first facility set to go operational by early 2026 and a second of similar scale to follow. Together, the projects represent a $7 billion investment, creating hundreds of jobs and dramatically expanding AI capacity. These facilities feature hundreds of thousands of the world’s most powerful NVIDIA GPUs, billions of gigabytes of storage, and a hyper-optimized network with enough fiber cable to circle the globe four and a half times. Advanced liquid cooling eliminates the need for water use on 90% of the campus, sustainably powering AI training at an unprecedented scale. Beyond technology, Microsoft has partnered with 40+ local organizations, trained 114,000+ people in AI and digital skills, and connected 9,300 rural residents to reliable broadband. Learn more here.